Friday, June 21, 2013

National Corvette Museum to Break Ground on Motorsports Park

After over five years of planning, due diligence, and fundraising, the official groundbreaking and beginning of construction for the National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park (MSP) will become a reality on June 28, 2013.

The MSP will be situated on 184.05 acres that the Museum has purchased and rezoned. It will feature a two mile west and a 1.1 mile east circuit which can be combined in multiple configurations ranging from the high speed loop of 1.96 miles to the 3.15 mile technical course. The facility will also include an autocross / skid pad area, paddocks, control tower, and classrooms.

The Corvette Racing/Pratt and Miller Team has contributed to the layout of the MSP track which will include features from their favorite and most challenging track, the Le Mans circuit. Testing on the Le Mans track is not possible because the circuit is composed of public roads, making the MSP track a valuable resource to test the key features of the Le Mans circuit. The NCM Motorsports Park will provide for many other functions such as vehicle testing by engineers at the nearby Corvette Assembly Plant, teen driver training programs, emergency vehicle response training and corporate events. Corporations will be able to hold team building events for their employees or customer reward events.

The Motorsports Park will be used primarily for High Performance Driver Education (HPDE) events conducted by the Corvette Museum and other driving school organizations. Owners of all makes and models of sports cars can participate in driving schools designed for all skill levels, including beginners. Numerous national and regional car and motorcycle clubs will rent the track for their club driving activities.

The target date for at least part of the facility to open is the Museum’s 20th Anniversary Celebration Labor Day weekend, 2014. Motorsports Park Project Manager Roc Linkov says, “The close proximity of the track to hotels, restaurants, and things to do in Bowling Green is just another reason this track will be appealing to clubs and high performance driving enthusiasts.”

The public is invited to attend a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, June 28, 2013 at 9:30am on Grimes Road, the site of the future Motorsports Park. In addition, a number of seminars will be held during the Museum’s ‘Celebration of Corvette’ event which focus on the Park – including a presentation by Roc Linkov, and one by Corvette Racing Program Manager Doug Fehan.

About Me

This 115,000 sq. ft. showcase to America's sports car features over 80 Corvettes showcased in periodic settings including a mid-century barbershop, service station and historic race track! See classics in mint condition, one-of-a-kind prototypes that never went into production & modern-day wonders of engineering and design. Interact and test your skills by fueling up and changing tires at the "Pit Crew Challenge" exhibit, enjoy a film in the Chevy Theater and see rare collectibles and memorabilia. Sit behind the wheel of a Corvette and register to drive one home. Enjoy shopping in the Corvette Store which offers a wide selection of apparel, collectibles, home and gift items. Open daily, 8am-5pm.